BACK to Premier League Darts, but it’s not what we are used to… but is anything like what we are used to in 2020?
We will most likely miss crowds for the remainder of the campaign, but we have an intriguing-looking Premier League table to get our teeth into, with a cluster of six nights back-to-back at Milton Keynes’ Marshall Arena.
Realistically, everyone has a chance of pushing for the playoffs, but it could be undone as fast as sewn up in what will be a cacophony of drama over the week at the Marshall Arena.
Michael Smith vs Gary Anderson | Tuesday August 25, 18:30
The PDC deserve praise for putting on a rematch of the recent World Matchplay first on return night. Two-time world champion Anderson narrowly won in overtime on the very stage this game will be played on, so immediately we think it will be tight.
Gary struggled with his release in the World Matchplay and also had some sporadic form during the PDC’s Summer Series, so reaching the final was remarkable. We have to see whether Gary has fixed this issue, or whether it will continue to plague him.
Michael Smith looks trim, mature and ready to get back to playing consistently on stage. At times recently he’s looked fabulous and composed but does have moments of blankness. If he can stay focused and sharp at the beginning, he should win, but the odds being identical shows a draw is likely if these guys go toe-to-toe.
If Gary hasn’t fixed his release issue, Smith wins, but Gary is adaptable and will leave no stone unturned in his quest to get into the top four by Night 12.
Match Odds: Smith (7/5) Draw (3/1) Anderson (7/5)
Tip: Smith to have the most 180s (17/20)
Correct score: Smith 6-6 Anderson (3/1)
A further four @Unibet Premier League nights will be played behind closed doors due to cancellations…
Full story and dates ⬇️
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) August 17, 2020
Michael Van Gerwen vs Rob Cross | Tuesday August 25, 19:10
MVG has worked hard during lockdown, and two titles from five events show his preparations for the Summer Series were good. His World Matchplay early exit at Simon Whitlock’s hands came as a shock, but take note of how Simon won – it was a blueprint for beating the world number one.
Rob Cross should use that as motivation. Rob has added another child to his family – he won’t want to be away from his kin for too long without success. The pressure is firmly on Cross – he needs a great start to the six-day stretch being in eighth position out of nine ahead of this rematch of the Ally Pally best ever game from 2017.
On form you have to tip MVG, but if the Cross of Summer Series Day 4 shows up at the Marshall Arena, he will cause Mighty Mike problems, not to mention his other opponents for the week. He has to, because if he doesn’t and is caught by ninth-placed Daryl Gurney, he could be eliminated before the play-offs. I still think MVG gets the win, but I’m not convinced it will be a classic.
Match Odds: Van Gerwen (1/2) Draw (7/2) Durrant (4/1)
Tip: Van Gerwen to have the most 180s (Evens)
Correct score: Van Gerwen 7-4 Cross (4/1)
Nathan Aspinall vs Gerwyn Price | Tuesday August 25, 19:50
Aspinall and Price will love facing each other here – there’s a mutual respect between the two. They know they can open a can of the proverbial and the other will swing back harder than A-Rod with his baseball bat. This will be the game of the night in my opinion. Both need a catalyst but for very different reasons.
Surprisingly, both were eliminated early from the World Matchplay, but now that's over, they can get back to work. Aspinall didn't play poorly in defeat to Matchplay winner Dimitri Van Den Bergh, but players turn up against The Asp which he should take as a compliment. If Nathan wants to remain top four going into the next phase, compounding Price’s campaign anguish will be top of his weekly shopping list.
If Price doesn’t win and Cross and Gurney get their points, Gezzy is in bother and will be looking over his shoulder into the elimination chamber. He hasn’t been under this amount of PL pressure since his 2018 debut season and that didn’t go well. Now's the time for the reigning, defending and current two-time Grand Slam of Darts champion to show his fight.
His stats and form from the Summer Series were impressive, but they weren’t on the stage, and this one will be. Can Price rebound from that puzzling early loss to Danny Noppert? You’d think so, but surely this game fires up both participants and makes them vocalise their desire even despite the lack of crowd. I think this one goes all 12 legs.
Match Odds: Aspinall (6/4) Draw (3/1) Price (13/10)
Tip: Over 11.5 legs (19/20)
Correct score: Aspinall 6-6 Price (3/1)
Chris Dobey (challenger) vs Daryl Gurney | Tuesday August 25, 20:30
Gurney is rock bottom and three points adrift of Cross in eighth. Superchin has an urgent task to close that gap pronto. If he doesn’t, he'll be out of the standings by Judgement Night on Thursday (Night 3). Is it good for Gurney to play a challenger? I don’t think so, because he isn’t going to starve another league player of points and will face very capable “Hollywood” Chris Dobey for two precious points.
Dobey didn’t make the World Matchplay and will see this as a test of how he may have played there, but he will rue the fact he isn’t going to get that dream return to the Newcastle Arena in front of his adoring Geordie posse. That said, there is little pressure on the lad from Bedlington, and he could do a Luke Humphries in winning as a challenger to amalgamate the Northern Irishman’s misery.
Gurney losing would be like giving Cross and Price oxygen in their ascent to the top of Everest – it’s Daryl’s job to suffocate them if they slip up prior to his challenge. I’ve been going back and forth on this result and it’s my view that plenty of 180s will be hit in a tight game, but we could see Daryl eliminated no matter what transpires as that three-point chasm may prove to be too great to bridge.
Match Odds: Dobey (17/10) Draw (3/1) Gurney (23/20)
Tip: To win any leg with a bullseye checkout (13/8)
Correct score: Dobey 7-5 Gurney (7/1)
Peter Wright vs Glen Durrant | Tuesday August 25, 21:10
Although Peter is World Champion and Glen is top of the table, this game will go under the radar until both toe the oche. Glen has been top of the table for over five months – he won’t give that up lightly especially when a win puts him as the star on the tree for at least one more day. Duzza’s form since Liverpool in March in the Unibet PL has been noticeably Glen.
The ever consistent, mentally solid Teessider has won nothing of note, but has forced his way into the top 16, made a second consecutive World Matchplay semi-final, and put in some eye-catching displays. Being top isn’t alien to Glen – he won’t feel out of place.
Wright will be sad he hasn’t had chance to prowl around Europe as the champ of the planet, but he, like Glen, is a consummate preparation guy and won’t lack sharpness come Tuesday. He loves to be tested and the Summer Series order of merit winner will feel good despite not taking the Phil Taylor Trophy in late July.
Durrant stopped Snakebite’s slither towards glory in round two – Wright will want revenge. If he's to get it, Snakebite must stay with Glen early and hit him with that 180 prowess that sees him top of the pro tour 180 charts for 2020 by some distance. He may just get this one, but I don’t feel I can back against Glen having a superb week and remaining in the top echelons of the PL going into the second batch of behind-closed-doors action.
Match Odds: Wright (Evens) Draw (3/1) Durrant (39/20)
Tip: Over 11.5 legs (Evens)
Correct score: Wright 7-5 Durrant (7/1)
